Page 41 of On a Barbarian World

“Here.” He faced her.

She bounced on her feet and bent her neck from side to side. She held her hands up in front of her face. “Okay, bring it on, warrior.”

He circled her slowly. She matched his movements, her gaze glued to him. He lunged in to grab her, but she darted away, and his fingers grabbed air.

They circled again. This time he went low, ducking, aiming to grab her knees.

She was gone again in a quick leap.

His gaze narrowed as he watched her.

He already knew she was observant, that she noticed small things others missed. Somehow, he was telegraphing his moves and she was anticipating him. He frowned. He wasn’t sure anyone—at least, no warrior he’d ever trained with—had managed to do that before. She was using her strengths against him.

Well, it was time he used his.

He charged at her. Her eyes widened, and she dodged. But Kavon changed direction and kept coming. His fingers brushed leather, but again, she managed to duck under his arm and spin away from him.

He didn’t let up, switching directions to follow her.

She leaped onto the bed and ran across it, before leaping off the other side.

Kavon dodged around it. She ran across the room, and when he lunged for her, she dropped to the floor.

He stumbled past her.

He spun and she was facing him.

“You can’t run from me forever, little skyflyer. You will tire.”

She lifted her chin. “I can try. It’s worth it to have you ask me politely for things.”

“I said I would ask, I never said anything about politeness.”

She rolled her eyes. “Typical.”

While she was talking and distracted, he jumped forward. She leaped back, but he managed to get a hold of her. He wrapped an arm around her middle and lifted her, kicking and cursing, off her feet.

“Damn you, barbarian. That wasn’t fair.”

“Cunning is considered honorable. As long as you do not use false pretenses and stab someone in the back.” He twisted her until their noses brushed. “You saw me coming.”

She poked her tongue out at him.

He stared, captivated by the deep grass-green of her eyes. “Something makes me think you aren’t disappointed to be caught by me.”

“Don’t be preposterous.”

He wound his arms tighter around her. Her full breasts were pressed hard against his chest, and under his hands she was all woman. “Now you will kiss me.”

She released a shaky breath. “Damn you, barbarian.”

“Kavon. Call me Kavon.”

Her hands reached up and snaked into his hair. “Kavon.” A low murmur.

Then she pressed her lips to his.

The two of them stayed there, just for a second, lips to lips, not moving.